Pupils from Holy Family, Chesterfield and Sacred Heart quizzed Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson and his Southport counterpart John Pugh on topics from bankers’ bonuses to tuition fees in an hour-long discussion at Formby’s Range High School.

Liberal Democrat Mr Pugh and Labour MP Mr Esterson debated with pupils from across Sefton with John Pugh’s support for the scrapping of the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) proving one of the most divisive topics.

A pupil from Hillside School asked how cutting the EMA which she described as a “lifeline” for many people, would encourage people to go into further or higher education.

Bill Esterson, who spoke against the government cuts, said the EMA was “one of the best things the last government did”.

He said many students had written to him on the topic.

But John Pugh replied that something had to go, and the EMA was only intended to make a difference to the poorest families.

The Question Time ended by steering away from educational issues with a heated debate on bankers’ bonuses.

A pupil from Deyes High in Maghull asked if anybody could justify the “astronomical bonuses” at a time of drastic cuts.

John Pugh told the audience that caution was necessary because the country had such a huge financial sector and therefore anything done to the banks had to ensure it would not hinder their ability to repay the billions they owe the taxpayer after the mass payouts following the credit crunch.

Bill Esterson said: “Senior bankers are part of the problem” and they should be paying the “lion’s share” to get us out of the problem.

Chesterfield High School started the debate by quizzing the politicians on the scrapped Building Schools for the Future programme.

Bill Esterson said the decision was “extremely disappointing”, but John Pugh asked where all the money for the programme would come from to refurbish school buildings.

Chesterfield and Hillside High schools, who were both at the debate, were particularly badly hit by the cancellation.

Sacred Heart and Birkdale High students also asked the politicians about tuition fees.

Mr Pugh, who voted against the latest tuition fee rise, said students should make some contribution but believed £9,000 a year was excessive.

He told of his fears of seeing a generation grow up who would not have the same standard of living as their parents.

Bill Esterson said: “Unless as a society we are prepared to put up the money and invest in our young people, the future prospects for our country are not good.”

In the debate, chaired by Range High head teacher Graham Aldridge, the MPs also discussed the English Baccalaureate and vocational courses.